PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 08 June 2026
AL JAMA-AH DEMANDS RETRACTION AND APOLOGY FROM DAILY MAVERICK OVER FALSE REPORTING ON HON. GANIEF HENDRICKS
Al Jama-ah confirms that a formal letter of demand has today been issued to Daily Maverick and journalist Ms Rebecca Davis in respect of the article published on 3 June 2026 under the headline: “More members of executive implicated in Department of Social Development fallout”
The article falsely, misleadingly, deceitfully, unfairly, and unethically suggests that the President of Al Jama-ah, Hon. Ganief Hendricks, MP, who also serves as Deputy Minister of Social Development, was “implicated” in wrongdoing by the reports discussed by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development matters.
That is not true.
Having considered the relevant reports in full, Al Jama-ah’s position is clear:
– The Mketsu report does not implicate Hon. Hendricks in any respect;
– The Public Service Commission report makes no formal finding against Hon. Hendricks;
– the PSC report directs no disciplinary action, no further investigation, and no remedial step against him.
Daily Maverick has, therefore, gone materially beyond the reports and has wrongly portrayed Hon. Hendricks as implicated in official wrongdoing. In this regard, a simple rhetorical question is raised: Is this not against the journalistic ethics?
The article’s headline, opening paragraph, and overall framing were plainly if not deliberately designed to create the impression that Hon. Hendricks was part of the transgression that was uncovered in the Department of Social Development; that impression, the party holds, is not merely false but this is defamatory and not in accordance with journalistic ethics.
Al Jama-ah is further deeply concerned that no right of reply whatsoever was sought from Hon. Hendricks before Daily Maverick went to print. It is indeed unacceptable that such a serious allegation was published against a public personality – in this instance a serving Deputy Minister – without even the most basic fairness of obtaining his response.
Importantly, it should be stressed that this is, according to journalism and journalistic ethics, not responsible journalism; nay, it tarnishes the newspaper’s image and, to say the least, embarrassing. This manner of reporting is not only irresponsible and reckless, but it is also prejudicial and damaging.
The letter of demand thus requires Daily Maverick and Ms Rebecca Davis, by 16h00 on 12 June 2026, to:
– remove or amend the headline and all offending passages;
– confirm that the correction has been applied across all platforms;
– undertake not to repeat the false allegation;
– publish a full correction and apology with equal prominence; and
– ensure that these appear on the newspaper’s print and online front pages.
Failing compliance, Hon. Hendricks reserves all his rights and will proceed with the necessary legal steps.
Al Jama-ah will not stand by while untruthful, dishonest, and offensive reporting is used to harm the President’s name and mar his image; on top of these, it will not accept any form of reportage that purposely (desire to) mislead the public, and to intentionally distort the official reports’ contents for sensational effect that cause confusion rather than in the public sector.
Issued by: Al Jama-ah
Media enquiries:
Nisa Hendricks
National Marketing and Communications Officer
082 613 1917